"Anti gun groups kind of take advantage of situations like that to try to push their message across," says Chief Deputy Shawn Graham. "I don't believe it's a gun issue; I believe it's a mental health issue and an issue that society's dealing with."

Gun proponents don't agree that the Commander in Chief is taking a stand against firearms.

"I think it's an overreaction by the Obama administration," Graham says. "Law enforcement in general has no interest in enforcing unconstitutional laws."

It's left a nation divided on who's entitled to gun ownership.

"Americans have the right to bear arms, unless they've done something to have those rights taken away," Graham says. "You have a right to protect yourself, protect your property, protect your family."

Officials say an unstable person will carry out violence, whether it's a gun or a pencil.

"We're the ones committing the crime, it's not the guns," Merritt says. "It doesn't make a difference if I have a gun or not... I'd find some way to do it, whether it was a gun or a knife or whatever."

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